Friday, October 3, 2014

2008 was a great year for comic book movies, not only did it introduce us to Iron Man and the start of Marvel's Cinematic Universe, but it also brought us the second installment in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, with Heath Ledger in his outstanding Oscar-winning performance as 'The Joker'.

Original film costumes and props from The Dark Knight

This amazing collection of original costumes and screen-used props were photographed on display at the75th Anniversary Batman exhibit at the Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour Museum in Burbank, California on July 29, 2014.

The Dark Knight movie poster

Christian Bale's Bat-suit and Heath Ledger's Joker costume from The Dark Knight were two of the first movie costumes I ever saw on display when I first moved to L.A., but it was even cooler seeing them up close and out of their display cases, plus alongside all the other costumes and film props.

Original costume worn by Heath Ledger as

The Joker in 2008's The Dark Knight

Lindy Hemming was responsible for updating The Joker's distinctive purple and green wardrobe for the gritty world of Gotham City, and if you like this outfit worn by the Caped Crusader's arch-foe, be sure to compare it to Jack Nicholson's Joker costume from 1989's Batman, which was far more flamboyant.

The Joker's nurse outfit worn by

Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight

Another costume worn by Heath Ledger was the creepy nurse's outfit he donned when he visited 'Harvey Dent' aka 'Two-Face' in the hospital after the accident that scarred him, obviously The Joker looked even more sinister in his makeup and wig.

Meanwhile Christian Bale's Bat-suit also got a makeover between Batman Begins and its sequel, The Dark Knight, and the DC Comics crime-fighter's costume looked much more like angular and armoured pieces than the more molded rubber look he'd previously sported.

In addition to all these fantastic costumes worn by the lead actors in the movie, the exhibit which featured items from all seven Batman movies to date, also had a cool selection of props that had been featured in the film.

Screen-used movie props from The Dark Knight

Included in the display were some of the scary clown masks used by The Joker's henchmen, Batman's pump-action sticky bomb gun, The Joker's signature playing card calling card, Two-Face's coin props and even the letter written by 'Rachel Dawes', Bruce Wayne's childhood friend and former flame (in this movie played by Maggie Gyllenhaal), before her death.

If you're a fan of the Gotham City's protector, be sure to check out all the other original costumes and props from his Warner Bros. Studios movies to date and stay tuned for more great items from The Dark Knight Rises.